Department for Transport

Railways: Freight

lord bradshaw: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have a strategy for electrifying the freight railway; and if so, whether that strategy includes the objectives of (1) reducing the level of pollutants emitted from diesel haulage, and (2) attracting additional freight to rail.

baroness sugg: The Government’s Clean Growth Strategy calls for more use of electric, bi-mode and alternative fuel traction on the railway, and Government has set out an ambition for a cleaner, greener railway with all diesel-only trains phased out by 2040. The Minister of State has written to industry to ask them to set out an industry-wide vision for decarbonising the railway. Government recognises the environmental benefits of shifting freight from road to rail and we are committed to supporting the long-term growth of the rail freight industry. Government’s Rail Freight Strategy, published in September 2016, sets out a shared vision for how rail freight can increase its share of the freight market, and encourage modal shift from road to rail. To support future growth of the rail freight industry the Secretary of State confirmed in October 2017 that Government intends to continue investment in improving the rail freight network in Control Period 6 (2019-2024).

Railways: Tickets

lord bradshaw: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they are carrying out a review of railway ticketing systems; and if so, who is responsible for that review, and when it will conclude.

baroness sugg: While the Department for Transport closely monitors the ticketing systems operated by the rail industry, and is investing £80m this year to ensure that passengers may travel without a paper ticket on almost all of the GB rail network, there is no specific review currently underway. However, the Office of Rail and Road is conducting a market study under the Competition Act 1998 into the ticketing systems market.

Bus Services

baroness randerson: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have any plans to make it a statutory duty for councils to include in any consideration of cuts to bus services an assessment of the environmental impact of withdrawing that bus service.

baroness sugg: There are no plans to make it a statutory duty for councils to consider environmental impact of cutting services. However local authorities must apply to the Traffic Commissioner should they want to cut or change a bus service, whose priorities include environmental considerations.

High Speed 2 Railway Line: Franchises

baroness randerson: To ask Her Majesty's Government which companies are competing for the HS2 franchise; and whether they have any plans to reconsider the process of letting that franchise.

baroness sugg: The companies bidding for the West Coast Partnership franchise competition were announced by the Secretary of State for Transport on the 22nd June 2017 and are published on the gov.uk. website. For ease, I include their names here:First Trenitalia West Coast Ltd, a joint venture between First Rail Holdings Ltd and Trenitalia SpAMTR West Coast Partnership Ltd, a joint venture between MTR Corporation (UK) Ltd and Guangshen Railway Company, with the following key sub-contractors:Deloitte MCS LtdPanasonic Systems EuropeSnowfall ABTrainline.com LtdWSP Parsons BrinkerhoffWest Coast Partnership Ltd, a joint venture between Stagecoach Group plc, Virgin Holdings Ltd and SNCF C3The Franchise is being let through the Department for Transport’s standard procurement process and the Department does not intend to review this part way through the live competition.

Great Western Railway: Standards

baroness randerson: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the reasons for the deterioration inGreat Western Railway's Public Performance Measure (PPM), as reported by the Office of Road and Rail; and what assessment they have made of the reasons for the 214 per cent increase in train crew-caused PPM failures since Q3 in 2016–17.

baroness randerson: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the reasons why the punctuality of Great Western Railway services have deteriorated since Q3 2016–17, as reported by the Office of Road and Rail; and what assessment they have made of the reasons why train punctuality is at the lowest level since 2007–08.

baroness sugg: When the Secretary of State for Transport announced the High Level Output Specification for Network Rail on 20 July 2017, my Rt Hon Friend made clear the government is determined that the railway becomes more focused on punctuality and reliability. On the basis of independent advice from the Office of Rail and Road, as well as from the rail industry, the government has agreed that an increased volume of renewals activity will be needed over the course of control period 6, to maintain safety and to improve on current levels of reliability and punctuality, which in places fall short of the levels that passengers rightly expect. In relation to the recent increase in train crew-related performance issues on Great Western Railway train services, we understand that the key issue has been difficulties in securing sufficient training of crew on the new trains now entering service as a result of the trains themselves being available later than originally planned because of the delays to electrification of the Great Western Main Line.

Railways: Timetables

baroness randerson: To ask Her Majesty's Government when they expect rail companies to return to the 12-week deadline for publishing accurate advance timetables.

baroness sugg: As Network Rail have made clear, the industry is making temporary changes to the advanced availability of final timetables for approximately six months from 20 May onwards. The Office of Rail and Road, in their role as the independent regulator, will be monitoring progress against their proposed recovery plan.

Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

Insolvency

lord flight: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the case for introducing reforms to the UK's corporate insolvency framework after the UKwent from 13th to 14th in the World Bank's ease of doing business rankings in respect of resolving insolvencies.

lord henley: In May 2016 the Government published its Review of the Corporate Insolvency Framework consultation. The consultation contained a package of proposals to improve the rescue opportunities for financially-distressed companies. A summary of responses to the consultation was published in September 2016.Following the publication of the summary of responses, the Government has continued to engage with a range of interested parties to further discuss and explore issues raised in responses to the consultation. This further engagement will ensure that any reforms, if necessary, will be fit for purpose and best achieve the Government’s aims of rescuing distressed but viable businesses, preserving economic value and saving jobs.The Government will set out the way forward for the proposals in its response later this year.

Insolvency

lord flight: To ask Her Majesty's Government, in the light of the possible barriers to resolving cross-border insolvencies post-Brexit, what assessment they have made of the case for reforming the UK's corporate insolvency framework to ensure that it is fit for purpose.

lord henley: The exact future relationship between the EU and UK on civil judicial cooperation, including the recognition of insolvency and restructuring procedures and judgments, is subject to negotiations with our EU partners. It is in the interests of the UK and the EU that there continues to be an effective, and fit for purpose, framework for resolving cross-border legal disputes. The Government has made clear that an effective framework of civil judicial cooperation is an important part of the deep and special partnership we want to establish with the EU.The Government keeps the UK's corporate insolvency framework under review to ensure it is fit for purpose and in May 2016 published its Review of the Corporate Insolvency Framework consultation. A summary of responses to that consultation was published in September 2016 and the Government will set out the way forward for the proposals in its response later this year.The Government is currently consulting on a package of insolvency and corporate governance measures to strengthen the responsibilities of directors of companies that are in or approaching insolvency in order to reduce the risk of major company failures and to ensure the UK remains one of the best places to start and grow a business. The consultation is open until 11 June 2018.

Insolvency: EU Law

lord flight: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to implement the EU's Insolvency, Restructuring and Second Chance Directive.

lord henley: The proposed Directive on preventive restructuring frameworks, second chance and insolvency measures is currently still under negotiation in Brussels. Given this stage of the process and the ongoing negotiations on withdrawal from the EU, it is not possible to say whether, if adopted by the EU, the provisions would be implemented in the UK.Similar proposals to those in the draft Directive were consulted on by the Government in the Review of the Corporate Insolvency Framework consultation published in May 2016. The consultation contained a package of proposals to improve the rescue opportunities for financially-distressed companies. A summary of responses to the consultation was published in September 2016 and the Government will set out the way forward for the proposals in its response later this year.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Yemen: Armed Conflict

lord jones of cheltenham: To ask Her Majesty's Government what recent discussions they have had with (1) the government of Saudi Arabia, (2) the EU, (3) the United Nations, and (4) the government of Yemen, concerning the humanitarian crisis in Yemen.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: We engage regularly with regional and international partners on the humanitarian situation in Yemen both bilaterally and through multilateral fora. Regular discussions at all levels are held with Saudi Arabia, the EU, the UN and the Government of Yemen. Ministers have had discussions recently with President Hadi during the Riyadh International Humanitarian Forum, with the Saudi Crown Prince during his recent visit to the UK, and with UN Security Council colleagues where a UK-sponsored Presidential Statement focused on the humanitarian situation was agreed on 15 March.

Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

Grenfell Tower: Fire Regulations

lord bassam of brighton: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they intend to identify and publish (1) the type of fire doors installed at Grenfell Tower in 2013, and (2) the manufacturer that supplied those doors; whether they have established which public bodies, local authorities, housing associations, and other volume users have used and fitted the same fire door type in the last 10 years; and if so, whether they will publish a list of those bodies.

lord bourne of aberystwyth: The doors identified by the police investigation into the fire at Grenfell Tower were produced by Manse Masterdor. This company is no longer trading.As the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government set out in his statement on 15 March, we have begun the process of conducting further tests, and we will continue to consult our expert panel to identify the implications of those further tests. The Secretary of State committed to updating the House when further information is available, and no later than the end of April.The Expert Panel has advised that the risk to public safety remains low. There is no change to the fire safety advice that the public should follow.

Heart of the South West Joint Committee

lord patten: To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their assessment of the democratic accountability of the new Heart of the South West Joint Committee.

lord bourne of aberystwyth: The Heart of the South West Joint Committee is a voluntary arrangement of the 17 local authorities in the Heart of the South West geographical area.A Joint Committee can be created using the provisions of sections 101 to 103 of the Local Government Act 1972, but has no decision making power. Such committees make recommendations to their constituent authorities, who may then choose whether or not to implement them using the usual democratic processes. In the Heart of the South West, the Joint Committee has the delegated function to approve the Heart of the South West Productivity Strategy.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

River Exe: Flood Control

lord bradshaw: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer byLord Gardiner of Kimble on 15 March (HL5998), (1) when did Network Rail seek the Environment Agency's assurance in providing assistance to relieve the flood problems at Cowley Bridge Junction, (2) when the Environment Agency responded to that request, and in what form, (3) when is Network Rail expected to respond to this request, (4) how long the Environment Agency forecasts it will take to assess the consequences of the structure, and (5) in the meantime, what assessment has been made of the flood risk to the railway and surrounding area.

lord gardiner of kimble: The Environment Agency (EA) agreed in 2014, following flooding of the railway line in 2012 and 2013/14, to assist Network Rail in finding a technically appropriate solution to the problem, whilst ensuring that it does not conflict with the £30 million investment in new flood defences in Exeter. The EA has had regular meetings with Network Rail to provide advice on its culvert installation and weir removal works at Cowley Bridge. The EA has also been working with Network Rail since November 2017 to advise on the flood risk modelling for its weir removal proposals. This includes the EA providing flood history information, geomorphology commentary and examples of issues experienced in other local weir removal projects. The EA has also established a team to assist Network Rail with the technical and permitting requirements of both phases of its works at Cowley Bridge, and has accelerated the issuing of permits for the culvert works. Network Rail’s modelling is expected to be completed in spring 2018 and on completion the EA will provide feedback on the outputs. This is to ensure that Network Rail’s proposals do not increase flood risk to residential properties or adversely impact on the level of protection provided by new flood defences in Exeter. The EA will prioritise this work to ensure a timely response to Network Rail. Although flood risk models have been available for discrete areas around Exeter and the Cowley Bridge location since 2005, no single model takes account of the whole system or all watercourses. The EA is working with Network Rail to ensure its latest modelling is comprehensive. In the interim there is a flood warning system for Cowley Bridge. This has been in place since 2012, with improvements to the forecasting model introduced in November 2017.

Countryside Stewardship Scheme

baroness mcintosh of pickering: To ask Her Majesty's Government what will be the role of (1) Natural England, and (2) the Rural Payments Agency, in administering countryside stewardship schemes after Brexit.

lord gardiner of kimble: The administration of Countryside Stewardship and Environmental Stewardship will be moving from Natural England to the Rural Payments Agency in the autumn. Administration of CAP schemes in one organisation will provide a more joined up service for staff and customers. Natural England will continue working with farmers to get the best environmental outcomes from the schemes on the ground. We know that farmers need stability, certainty and a smooth transition to a new system once the UK has left the EU. In our consultation paper “Health and Harmony: the future for food, farming and the environment in a Green Brexit”, published on 27 February, we set out our proposals for future agricultural policy. The paper emphasises that we will be looking to simplify existing schemes during the ‘agricultural transition’ period, including Countryside Stewardship, before we move to any new regime. The results of the consultation will help to inform the direction of our future policy, including how best to deliver it.

Fisheries: Quotas

baroness mcintosh of pickering: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they plan to continue to rely on the research provided by the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea in relation to setting quotas for fishing in waters in the UK post-Brexit.

lord gardiner of kimble: The UK Government places a high value on the work of the International Council for the Exploration of the Seas (ICES) in providing research including fisheries stock assessments. Senior scientists at the Centre for Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas) laboratory in Lowestoft are members of ICES working groups developing the stock assessments. We will be setting a gold standard for sustainable fishing and protection of the marine environment around the world. We want to pass on a healthy marine environment and profitable British fishing industry to the next generation. In order to do this we need to use the best science available to support management. Therefore, we intend to continue to collect marine and fisheries data to inform ICES research and stock assessments. We will continue to use their research outputs to support our work in setting fishing opportunities post-Brexit.

Plastics: Seas and Oceans

lord alton of liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government when, and how, they intend to respond to the projection by the Government Office for Science that plastic in the ocean is set to treble by 2025.

lord gardiner of kimble: The Future of the Sea report shows that tough global action is needed to protect our oceans and marine life, and the UK is leading the way by tackling plastic waste. That’s why our 25 Year Environment Plan stated our ambition to eliminate all avoidable plastic waste. We want to be the first generation to leave our environment in a better state than we found it. We have recently introduced one of the world’s strongest bans on harmful microbeads in rinse-off personal care products, and have now commissioned the Hazardous Substances Advisory Committee to review the evidence on microplastics in leave-on cosmetics and domestic cleaning products, and their chances of reaching our seas and causing harm to marine life. We will review our position in light of their advice. Our 5p carrier bag charge has taken nine billion bags out of circulation. A beach clean survey in 2016 reported a 40% reduction in the number of plastic bags found. We will consider extending this charge to small retailers, exploring whether compulsory options are needed if voluntary agreements prove ineffective. Single use items are a major issue for marine litter and frequently in the top 10 of items found during beach cleans. In his Spring Statement, the Chancellor launched a call for evidence seeking views on how the tax system or charges could reduce the waste from single use plastics. We will introduce a deposit return scheme to increase recycling rates and slash the amount of waste polluting our land and seas, subject to consultation later this year. As marine litter is a transboundary problem we also work productively with other countries to address it, particularly through the Oslo and Paris Conventions for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the North-East Atlantic (OSPAR), G7, G20 and the UN Environment Programme.

Processed Food: UK Trade with EU

lord taylor of warwick: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they havemade of the risk that,due to a high proportion of non-UK ingredients, processed foods may be subject to EU tariffs after Brexit; and what steps they plan to take to address the issue.

lord gardiner of kimble: We are aware that some UK processed food exports contain a high proportion of non-UK content which may have implications for meeting origin rules in trade agreements. The government is currently working with stakeholders to understand business concerns and develop potential solutions to inform the UK’s negotiating approach.

Home Office

Cybercrime

lord lucas: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Williams of Trafford on 16 March (HL6114), why a report of a receipt of a fraudulent approach which did not lead to any further action is not counted as a crime by Action Fraud.

baroness williams of trafford: The counting rules for crime, including fraud, stipulate that in such cases an information report should be recorded by Action Fraud either through their online reporting tool or via their contact centre.These reports are retained in the Know Fraud database as another form of information capable of assisting the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau and UK law enforcement in determining lines of enquiry and protective messaging. The majority of such cases result from e-mails or other cyber based approaches generated in very large numbers and not specifically directed to the recipient.

Police: Recruitment

lord browne of belmont: To ask Her Majesty's Government what measuresthey are taking, if any,to encourage police forces to recruit ex-servicemen and women.

baroness williams of trafford: The Government’s police reforms are designed to create a more capable, flexible and professional workforce. Central to these reforms was the establishment of the College of Policing as the professional body for policing; charged with setting standards and further professionalising the police. Recruitment to the police is managed locally, within a national application, assessment and selection framework maintained by the College. Within this remit the College is delivering a number of major pieces of work including a review of initial police recruitment and proposals for a new policing education qualification framework. This framework will introduce new entry routes for police officers, via a pre-join degree, for degree holders and through a degree level police constable apprenticeship which will become available later this year. These reforms, along with innovative schemes such as direct entry, are ensuring that policing can continue to attract the brightest and best new recruits. The three direct entry schemes offer the opportunity to widen the talent pool from where we attract our police officers and will bring in people from a diverse range of backgrounds. The inspector and superintendent schemes are aimed at those who have the potential to reach the highest ranks in the police.

Borders: Northern Ireland

lord eames: To ask Her Majesty's Government what advice they have sought on the provision of technical instruments to monitor the border crossings between Northern Ireland the Republic of Ireland to facilitate an open border between the UK and the EU after Brexit; and from whom.

baroness williams of trafford: We have been clear that we are committed to working with the EU to find a creative solution that recognises the particular economic, social and cultural context of the land border with Ireland. Government departments are working together across a range of complex issues, exploring all options including the use of technology-based solutions.

Offences against Children: Rotherham

lord pearson of rannoch: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the answer byLord Young of Cookham on 13 March (HL Deb, col 1504), when they expect the investigations into 33 police officers in connection with the Rotherham case to conclude.

baroness williams of trafford: The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) is independent of Government and the police and is responsible for the investigations it carries out. The IOPC have confirmed that investigations into these officers remain on-going.

Radicalism

lord pearson of rannoch: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the answer byLord Young of Cookham on 13 March (HL Deb, col 1505), how they intend to measure the progress of the initiative by British-based Islamic leaders "to dispel the poisonous interpretation of Islam peddled by al-Qaeda and Daesh".

baroness williams of trafford: The Prevent Programme is fundamentally about safeguarding and supporting vulnerable individuals to stop them from becoming terrorists or supporting terrorism. Prevent safeguards people who are vulnerable to radicalisation in a similar way to safeguarding processes designed to protect people from gangs, drug abuse, and physical and sexual abuse. It requires a full-spectrum approach with Government working with the police, statutory partners, the private sector and communities. Currently the greatest threat comes from terrorist recruiters inspired by Daesh. Our Prevent programme will necessarily reflect this by prioritising support for vulnerable British Muslims, and working in partnership with civil society groups to tackle this problem.Prevent works best when delivered in partnership with our communities, who are working hard to uphold the security of this country, prevent radicalisation and make clear that the actions of Daesh and al-Qaeda are profoundly un-Islamic. 169 community based projects were delivered in 2016/17 reaching over 53,000 participants. 44% of these projects were delivered in schools, aimed at increasing young people’s resilience to terrorist and extremist ideologies. We also support community-based initiatives that challenge Daesh’s core communications and provide credible counter narratives.In 2015/16, 36% of those receiving support on Channel was as a result of referrals from the education sector. Of individuals supported by Channel in 2015/16 over 70 per cent were aged 20 years or under and 85 per cent were male. Of those that received Channel support in 2015/16, 83 per cent left with no further CT concerns. Prevent has made a significant impact in preventing people being drawn into terrorism.

Asylum: Lancashire

lord greaves: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have madeof the need forhousing more asylum seekers in Lancashire; what is their estimate of the numbers that can be housed in each district; what proposals they have for housing more asylum seekers in Lancashire; and what discussions they have held on this matter with each unitary and district council in Lancashire.

baroness williams of trafford: The Home Office maintains an active partnership with local governments across the UK and funds Strategic Migration Partnerships to plan for the most appropriate dispersal of asylum seekers. We work closely with our accommodation providers and the SMPs on the placement of asylum seekers to consider the impact on communities and local services so that adjustments can be made where appropriate. This includes increasing the number of areas that participate in providing accommodation and support to people seeking asylum and protection and allows local authorities to continue to shape the provision of service in their area and to ensure the impacts of dispersal on local communities and services are taken into account when accommodation is allocated.We work to a maximum agreed dispersal ratio of 1:200 asylum seekers per head of total population and would not go beyond that ratio without the agreement of the relevant local authority. The Home Office publishes quarterly figures on the number of asylum seekers housed in asylum accommodation, including under Section 95, by local authority in the Immigration Statistics release, in table as_16q and 17q in volume 4 of the Asylum data tables. These are available at:https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/691967/asylum4-oct-dec-2017-tables.ods



Tables - Asylum 4 - Oct-Dec 2017
(Excel SpreadSheet, 4.55 MB)

Passports

viscount waverley: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether there is an operational need for the negotiations regarding the supply of new British passports to proceed immediately; and if not, what assessment they have made of whether the awarding of the new contract should be postponed.

baroness williams of trafford: Her Majesty’s Passport Office has run a fair and open competition in line with UK law, EU and World Trade Organisation rules that has concluded in the identification of a preferred supplier. There are no grounds for a national security waiver. The current passport contract expires in 2019 and we will need to proceed immediately to contract award to ensure a smooth and safe transition to the new contract.

Vetting: Construction

baroness jones of moulsecoomb: To ask Her Majesty's Government what consideration they have given to paying compensation to those construction workers who were blacklisted as a result of information supplied to industry bodies by Special Branch and undercover police.

baroness williams of trafford: The Police are independent of Government and decisions relating to compensation are a matter for them.

Association of Chief Police Officers: Consulting Association

baroness jones of moulsecoomb: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) has had access to intelligence on trade unionists providedby Special Branch or undercover officers; and whether ACPO has sold (1) any such information, and (2) other information held on the Police National Computer, to the Consulting Association.

baroness williams of trafford: The Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) has ceased operating. The National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC) has assumed some of ACPO’s functions. The NPCC is an independent organisation and is a core participant in the Undercover Policing Inquiry. The Inquiry will consider any evidence provided by the NPCC that relates to information provided by undercover police officers.

Undercover Policing Inquiry

baroness jones of moulsecoomb: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether (1) the Home Office, and (2) the Metropolitan Police Service, intend to provide position statements to the Mitting Inquiry, setting out (a) their respective responsibilities for undercover policing, (b) their assessment of failings in respect of such policing, and (c) who was responsible for any such failings; and if so, whether they will publish those statements.

baroness williams of trafford: The Undercover Policing Inquiry was set up by the then Home Secretary to inquire into and report on undercover police operations conducted by English and Welsh police forces in England and Wales since 1968. Under the Inquiry’s Terms of Reference, this includes identifying and assessing the adequacy of the statutory, policy and judicial regulation of undercover policing and ascertaining the state of awareness of undercover police operations of Her Majesty’s Government. The Home Office is a Core Participant and, in addition to ongoing voluntary disclosure, is providing such assistance as is requested of it by the Inquiry. The Metropolitan Police Service is independent of Government and decisions on their statements and disclosure to the Inquiry are a matter for them. The Inquiry will report on its findings once all evidence has been reviewed.

Police: Mobile Phones

lord scriven: To ask Her Majesty's Government what national rules are in place concerning police officers accessing individuals' personal mobile phone data.

lord scriven: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of whether police officers should be prevented from accessing individuals' personal mobile phone data without a search warrant.

lord scriven: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the police can retain data downloaded from the mobile phones of those who have been arrested but not charged; and if so, why.

baroness williams of trafford: Current legislation, principally provisions in the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984, allow data to be accessed from a mobile device when there are reasonable grounds to believe it contains evidence of an offence, but only then in adherence with data protection and human rights obligations. Data obtained and downloaded from a mobile device belonging to a person arrested, but not charged, may be retained for forensic examination or as evidential material in an ongoing criminal investigation. The data may only be retained for as long as is necessary. There are no plans to change this legislation. The police are operationally independent of the Home Office and the use of their powers to investigate crime, including operational guidance, is a matter for them.

Department for Exiting the European Union

Brexit: Transitional Arrangements

lord taylor of warwick: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the extent to which a 21 month transition period will be sufficient to deal with structural changes in (1) customs, (2) immigration, and (3) the creation of new regulatory agencies.

lord callanan: The UK and EU negotiating teams have reached another important milestone in the Brexit process by agreeing the terms of a time-limited implementation period, ending on 31st December 2020. The agreement, which has been endorsed by the March European Council, will give businesses and citizens the time they need to put in place the new arrangements required, as the terms of our future partnership become clearer. All departments continue to work at pace to prepare and implement plans to deliver the changes needed at the end of this period. During the implementation period the UK will be in a continued close association with the EU Customs Union. This will ensure a smooth exit and minimise disruption for businesses. HMRC are confident that they are on track to deliver the functioning customs, VAT and excise regimes the UK will need once it leaves the EU. During this period EU citizens will be free to come to live, work and visit the UK, but will have to register after three months of residence. This is an important step towards regaining full control of our borders. This will enable the Home Office to grant settled status to the over 3 million EU citizens who are current residents, as well putting in place a straightforward system for the registration and documentation of new arrivals. The Home Office has already invested £60 million in 2017/18, is planning to recruit an additional 1,500 staff across the immigration, borders and citizenship system, and is well advanced in the development of a new scheme to give EU citizens currently here the right to stay after exit. In most cases we anticipate that repatriated EU regulatory functions can be absorbed by departments and existing public bodies. Prior to any decisions on establishing new UK-level bodies, the Government will always look to minimise disruption and costs, which will include considering alternative options. We will continue to plan for a range of scenarios and be ready to take any necessary steps to ensure that we are ready for exit day.